ajmckay

Posted 02 August 2010 - 06:01 PM

Sorry I don't have a cool name for this build... But it's my first custom setup. This build will at first be about the stand build, but it will then shift to the progression of the tank.

Goal for this setup: To demonstrate the skills I have gained since setting up my first tank in 2008. 1) I am a fan of simple tanks which make use of general biological phenomena to achieve balance without too much input from myself. 2) Establish and maintain an effective maintenance routine. 3) Focus on the interactions of species. I also want to grow out a select few coral specimens into impressive display pieces. 4) Improve my DIY skills (my first aquarium stand! - I hope it works!)5) Improve my eye for aesthetics. Create a beautiful, natural reef landscape.6) Hone my photography skills and be able to show off the tank.

Corals:2x grape coral (Euphyllia cristata)Various mushroomsMy prized blastomussa wellsi colony, which I got as just a few small polyps on a piece of LR (that was also heavily infested with aptasia!)1 favia frag1 small fungia plate2 kenya trees1 scolymia - standard green one, but got it for $10 from a localGSPPulsing XeniaBlue Xenia3 Idaho Grape Montipora Capricornis - Died off when caulerpa went sexual1 frag Rose millipora1 colony of tubbs blue zoanthids1 frag of AOG (armor of God) palys - growing like crazy

Misc:Grape Caulerpa (racemosa) Went sexual, so it went bye-byeChaetomorpha Linum

I'm still waiting to really do much more with this tank. I'm in a cash bind for the near future, so things will probably move slow unfortunately. It'll be a while before I start stocking the display sump for example. Right now it's inhabitants mostly consist of a ton of bristle worms.

Here's me sitting on top. I wiggled around a bunch to test it's torsional stability. This thing is stiff!! (not in a sexual way... wellll...)

To do list:1) Add 1/2" ply to the shelves2) Paint the whole thing with a water sealing paint3) Skin it in 1/4" oak ply4) I'm using slate tile as the trim. I still need to cut it and stick it (to the stand).5) Cut some really thin thin strips (3/16" x 3/16") on the table saw to cover the edges of the oak ply6) Polyurethane the crap out of it7) Attach some doors and make panels to cover the skimmer/return pump area8) Drill the 40b, and silicone in the dividers into the 30b9) Set up the plumbing and make, then attach the overflow10) Fill with WAHTAH!

miniwhinny

Posted 18 August 2010 - 05:57 AM

miniwhinny

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Wow, your stand is going to look very nice Hubby and I just built one for my new 40B last month - we're thrilled with how it turned out but yours has us beat hands down for workmanship...Tagging along to see it finished.

ajmckay

Posted 18 August 2010 - 01:15 PM

ajmckay

Wrasses McGee

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Joined 30 Oct 2008

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Thanks for the comments. Sorry I only have stand pictures up so far! It's tough to find the time necessary to finish it... I'm working on the last big issue of how to level the tank. Unfortunately the floorboards have a "bump" in them right along the wall where I want to put the tank and there's a 1/2" drop 20" out from the wall! I'll either end up fabricating some specially made shims, or I'll install some adjusting screw feet.

It should be done pretty soon though and things should start to come together nicely.

Degener8

Posted 18 August 2010 - 01:23 PM

Degener8

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Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Gotta love old houses. I have this issue on my contest tank right now. It wasn't bad until I put weight in the tank. Then the floor well it adjusted so to speak.. I got to figure out how to relevel everything now without totally dismantling my setup. Hope you have better luck than me. I think I am just going to have to jack the stand up and shim it.

B.C.

Posted 27 August 2010 - 05:00 PM

ajmckay

Posted 28 August 2010 - 08:02 PM

ajmckay

Wrasses McGee

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Joined 30 Oct 2008

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Well... The stand is going pretty good. I didn't get much work done on it this week though because I took the time converting our ancient fuse box to a modern circuit breaker panel.... Looks muuuuuch better now and I added a new circuit for the aquarium so I won't have to daisy chain a bunch of extension cords...

I went from This

To This

Okay, so time for some updated stand pics... Here's the stand (upside down) being painted. I'm painting it and caulking the seams to reduce the possibility of the wood being damaged by moisture.Here is what the "skin" will look like... Pretty slick!

Now I've also been doing some work on my sump. I have been designing it and yesterday I bought some RTV108 so I'll start siliconing it together tomorrow probably. The design I think I've come up with, with the help of some N-R geniuses (Bitts esp.), should work fairly well. More on the design portion of the sump at this link:http://www.nano-reef...?...t&p=2976296

Now for the pictures of the sump design! I think the sketch up model is accurate except for the middle baffle, which should be raised up an inch or so but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. The sketch-up model is down-loadable by clicking on the link above.

B.C.

Posted 29 August 2010 - 08:42 AM

B.C.

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Palm Coast Fl./Long Island N.Y.

Wow !!!I haven't seen one of those fuse panels in a long time..
What type of paint did you use for the sump area?
I was thinking of perhaps using a mildew resistant primer and or paint.I have seen it done by others as well.I don't know if its really necessary.
Everything looks very nice.

ajmckay

Posted 29 August 2010 - 12:20 PM

ajmckay

Wrasses McGee

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4,573 posts

Joined 30 Oct 2008

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Thanks for the comments B.C. The fusebox was in good condition as far as fuseboxes go, but as you stated they're ancient! It worked fine, but I only had 12 circuits so the previous owner doubled up on some and other bad stuff... So now I have like 24 circuits I think which works much better...

I used a killz 2 latex primer on the whole thing, and I'm just using some left over trim paint (latex base, Interior, gloss) but any color would do... Actually you don't need glossy either, but that's just what I had. As for using a specific mildew-inhibiting paint, I would try to avoid that... Many exterior paints have those built in, but if you paint an enclosed area the fumes can build up pretty bad... So I would just use an interior paint.

Dude... Bitts you rock. I'll see if I can find some tutorials on how to work with circles, and how to move my middle baffle up...

ajmckay

Posted 30 August 2010 - 09:13 PM

ajmckay

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Joined 30 Oct 2008

Sterling Heights, Michigan

Yeah really good stuff too... Thanks a ton. I realize I'm being somewhat stubborn with this and in some senses re-inventing the wheel, but I suppose I just need to go through the process as this is my first real "from the ground up" build. My current tank was just a swap from FW... and a simple one at that.

My goal is to hopefully match the mental image that's in my head right now... whether that actually happens is one thing, but if it does it should be pretty cool.